A multifunctional hybrid gel based on cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) was developed by grafting on its surface stearyl acrylate (PSA) and gadolinium(III) fluoride nanoparticles (GdF3 NPs) via Cu0-mediated surface-initiated radical polymerization (SET-LRP) while encapsulating antimicrobial peptides in it. GdF3 NPs were first surface-modified with 11-phosphonoundecyl acrylate (PDA) to participate in the SET-LRP and cross-linked the grafted polymer-modified CNF. Several characterizations of the hybrid material (GdF3-PSA-CNF) were carried out, such as Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), rheology, and microscopic analyses. The grafted PSA and cross-linked GdF3 NPs created sophisticated networks in the CNF-based gel, presenting outstanding rheological properties and promising three-dimensional (3D) printability of this hybrid material (GdF3-PSA-CNF). The nanostructures of GdF3 NPs and their incorporated CNF species were characterized via small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). In addition, due to the unique intrinsic property of the GdF3 nanoparticles, properties for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of GdF3-PSA-CNF were investigated, showing the potential application as a contrast agent. Finally, the encapsulation of the antimicrobial peptides added another function to the hybrid material, evaluated by an antimicrobial test against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in vitro.